Mastering DC : A Newcomer's Guide to Living in the Washington, DC Area [Paperback]

Kay Killingstad (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2000

The fifth edition of Mastering DC: A Newcomer's Guide to Living in the Washington, DC Area continues with its original purpose--providing a single-resource for information about the Washington, DC area to help new residents get established quickly and easily. Even long-time residents will appreciate the convenience of this one-stop resource guide, and should encounter some new area treasures within its pages.

Within these eleven chapters, complete with neighborhood maps, illustrations, specialized feature pages, and "to do" lists, readers will learn about: Housing and neighborhoods, public and private transportation, websites, restaurants, shopping, licenses and taxes, events and activities, local services, family and children's activities, and much more! This edition also contains a comprehensive cross-referenced index.

Mastering DC is an invaluable resource for: New employees, college students, and anyone who needs to acclimate quickly; individuals on short- or long-term assignments in DC; residents; frequent visitors to the area; Corporate Recruiters and other Human Resource professionals as a recruitment tool for new employees; relocation firms on whom clients depend for local information.

Mastering DC is the ultimate how-to sourcebook for relocating to, living in and enjoying the Washington, DC area. Written and produced locally, this book is filled with useful insider tips.

Editorial Reviews

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Excerpt from Chapter 2: Urban neighborhoods of every shape and size; suburban cities and towns steeped in local history; and residential neighborhoods with single-family homes, townhouses, condos and apartment complexes--the Washington area offers a smorgasbord of choices for the newcomer. Many factors influence the decision about where to live. Cost of housing is often the most important and least negotiable issue, but factors relating to transportation time, cost and convenience can also make a difference. Local amenities and the character of the neighborhood often help people choose between otherwise comparable options.

Different life styles are better served by different parts of DC, Maryland and Virginia. Read the general descriptions in front of the chapter to get an overview of these three areas. Or turn directly to the neighborhood sections for specific information to help you decide what part of the greater Washington area suits you best.

Product Details

• Paperback: 328 pages
• Publisher: Adventures Publishing (May 1, 2000)
• ISBN-10: 0963193546
• ISBN-13: 978-0963193544
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #565,198 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars From the cornfields to the Capitol, November 13, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Mastering DC : A Newcomer's Guide to Living in the Washington, DC Area (Paperback)

This is a great book for those relocating to DC, VA, or MD. It explains the different neighborhoods and cultures, gives tips to getting past the utility and licensing red tape, and has some fun weekend acitivity suggestions, too. It's certainly not the definitive book on DC, but it has a useful level of detail on a broad array of topics.

I moved from Indiana about 6 months ago and this book was worth the price about 10 times over.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A helpful, to the point guide!, June 25, 2000

By 

Nicole Angresano (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mastering DC : A Newcomer's Guide to Living in the Washington, DC Area (Paperback)

Having just moved to DC, I was inundated with books about the city. Unfortunately, most of them were meant for tourists rather than new residents. This book offered helpful and entertaining information about life in the Capitol, and some very practical tips, especially regarding transportation/getting around.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars good begining book, September 28, 2002

By 

Catherine (Washington, DC, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mastering DC : A Newcomer's Guide to Living in the Washington, DC Area (Paperback)

This book provides a good "intro" for a newcomer to DC- especially if you will be relying on the metro for transportation, as it lists what metro lines to take to local shopping centres. This may seem trivial, but when you need a can opener two days after moving and have no car it becomes very important.

The only problms is that the info is very likly to become dated very quickly- especially the restaurant guide. Newer establishments and attractions weren't listed. As well, there seems to be a bias to certain areas with more "trendy" attractions, and a glossing over of less popular (and less expensive to live in) areas.